‘Timid steps’ not enough for safety
A campaign calling for improved road safety outside a school in Braywick has seen MP Theresa May add her voice of support.
Braywick Court School, located in Hibbert Road, has more than 200 pupils many of whom walk to and from school five days a week.
However, the profile of Hibbert Road – being on a slight hill with a bend – combined with roadside car parking, means the road can be dangerous for pedestrians.
The campaign, which has historically also been championed by nearby residents, has urged the council to introduce parking restrictions and traffic calming measures.
Theresa May MP visited Braywick Court on Thursday last week to meet with pupils and staff to discuss the issues.
Ms May said: “There is absolutely a need for greater traffic controlling measures on Hibbert Road and I know from previous exchanges with interested residents, just how important an issue road safety is for the local community.
“I am pleased to see that, with thanks to Braywick Court School, progress towards the aim is taking place.”
Braywick Court operates a walking bus three times a day from Braywick Leisure Centre, where school traffic is encouraged to park.
Pupils and parents follow a route through the nearby nature reserve to get to school.
Headteacher Michelle Robertson said the dangers of Hibbert Road had increased in the years since the COVID pandemic leading to a dangerous situation.
In a statement, she said: “As a highly oversubscribed school, we have a duty to ensure that all members of our school and local community remain safe when travelling to and from school, and it has taken almost five years for RBWM to take timid steps in support of our cause.
“We are very grateful to Mrs May for championing our campaign and putting the safety of the children first, ahead of bureaucracy.”
Hibbert Road residents have historically also supported calls for improved safety measures. But some have raised concerns that since the school was built in 2019, traffic – including parents parking in Hibbert Road – had exacerbated the problem.
The school says its parents ‘adhere religiously’ to its green travel plan involving the walking bus from the leisure centre.
A resident, who did not want to be named, told the Advertiser: “Although these proposed restrictions are welcome and will hopefully deter others like people that are parking there to use the leisure centre, or to then walk to the station & commute – unless they do something better to police the selfish minority ignoring the rules it’s still going to be dangerous.”
An RBWM spokesperson said: “The council takes highways safety seriously and the safety of all road users and pedestrians is paramount.
“We monitor recorded accident data across the local highways network, alongside considering road user feedback and suggestions from residents and communities, to help inform any necessary highways adjustments or changes.
“The council is aware of the school’s and Mrs May’s requests relating to parking restrictions and traffic calming measures on Hibbert Road, Maidenhead and is considering these carefully, and will update both parties once this work has been completed.”